Air-cushioned wheel.



C. I. DICKERSON.

AIR CUSHIONEDWHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.21. m5.

1,169,936. Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES I. DICKERSON, OF DUCHESNE, UTAH.

AIR-CUSHIONED WHEEL.

1b all whom it may concern.

"Be it known that 1, CHARLES I. DICKER- sex; a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Duchesne, in the county ofaDuchesne andState of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAir-Cushioned Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to air cushioned vehicle wheels and it has forits object the provision of an improved device of this characterconstructed in such manner that it will present a yielding surface tothe road bed while at the same time it will be impervious to puncture. I

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cushionedvehicle wheel constructed in such manner that the movement of the rim ina vertical plane, with relation to the axle will result In compressingair within the spoke of the wheel.

Further ob ects and advantages of the in- -vention will be set forth inthe detailed de- The rim has secured thereto a plurality of lugs 5 towhich the outer ends of the spokes 6 are pivotally connected by means ofpivot bolts 7. The inner ends of the spokes are pivotally connected tothe hub section B by means of pivot bolts 8 which pass transverselythrough the inner ends of the spokes and through inner and outer sideplates 9 and 10 as best illustrated in Fig. 2. The

inner ends of the spokes are rounded as at 11 and have a snug seating inthe hub core 12, the latter being 1- 11 but being otheiw tioatinglymounted between the inner and outer hub plates 9 and 10. To prevent theentry of dust, mud or water to the interior of the hub, packing strips15 are disposed transversely of the hub section at the point where thespokes contact with each other.

Each oftlie sp l es comprises a hub carried tubular section 16 and a rimcarried section 17, Th bottom of the tubular section 16 is closed byheat 28 and the section Specification of Letters Patent.

d at 13 to the axle.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

Application filed September 21, 1915. Serial No. 51,780.

17 constitutes a plunger disposed and operating in the tubular section16. This plunger comprises a piston 19 carrying an. inwardly openingcheck valve 20. The outer end of the tubular section 16 is provided Witha head 21 through which plunger-s 22 by Which tubular sections 17 arecarried, slide. These heads carry suitable packing indicated at 23and'are perforated at Rods 25 projecting. radially inward from the headscarry pistons 26 having inwardly opening check valves 27 therein. Smallopenings 28 are formed in the side walls of the tubular sections 16, thearea of these openings being such and their location being such that theamount of air trapped within the inner tubular section 16 when the Wheelis traveling over an ordinarily rough road is suflicient to properlycushion the part, but where the vehicle is traveling over an abnormallyrough road, and the movement of the piston 19 into the tubular section16 is an abnormal one, then the increased area of the chamber 29 betweenthe pistons 26 and 19-creates a vacuum at that point and air enters saidchamber through check valve 27. Air is supplied through check valves 30(see Fig.

2) and ports 24. Then when the piston 19 moves outwa'rdlylwith relationto the inner section 16, this air is forced into the interior of saidinner tubular section by pistons 26 and placed undercompression, therebyadapting the device to more efli ciently cushion the vehicle in itstravel over said abnormally rough roads.

It is a well known fact that a properly designed shock absorber forvehicles not only checks the downward movement of the vehicle body butalso checks the rebound of the body. The present invention provides in avehicle wheel a structure adapted also to carry out a function of thisnature, for the reason that when the plunger 19 tends to move outwardlywith relation to the inner tubular sections 16 it is partially checkedby the presence of the aicin the chamber 29. This air must be compressed\Vhile the elements shown and described arewell adapted toser\"e thepurposes for which they are intended, it is to be under-' stood that theinvention ,is not limited to the precise construction 'set: forth, butincludes within its; purview such changes as may .bejnade within thescope of the zippended claims.

' Having described my; invention, what I claim isz 'g 1. In a device of;the character described,

the combination with a hub' member com.-

prising a core having aplurality of-conca-ve recesses in its peripheralface a pluralit of spok'es,eachcomprising a tubular seetion pivoted adacent its inner end to said are connected, .said rods being pivoted attheir-outer ends to said rim member, piscopies ot. this patent maybeobtained for named pistons.

2. In a device of the character described the combination with a hub anda rim of a plurality. of. spokes extending therebetween,"

each of said spokes comprising a 1 tubular tons slida'ble in saidvtubular plu-ngers, means for rigidly' attaching said last named pistons .to' the tubular sections and inwardly opening check valves carriedby said last section pivotedat its inner end "to the hub, I

a tubular plunger slidab'ly disposed in said tnhular section a pistoncarried thereby, a

member extending from said plunger to the run. means. for pu'otallyconnect ng. said member to the. rim, apistoninounted in said tubularplunger. means for rigidly supporting said piston with relation to thetubular o a 500N011. and check valves earried 'by both of said pistonsand-opening toward the hub. 1

In testiinonv whereof I aliix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses;

CHARLES \V i tnesses i. DRKERSOX five cents each, by addressing theCommissioner'of Patents.

Washington, D. C."

